How to Take Care of Nubian Goats

Nubian goats were developed in the UK through breeding British goats with Middle Eastern specimens. They are also known as Anglo Nubian goat. Nubian goats are easily characterized by their roman noses and long ears. They are fairly large goats, measuring between 32 and 37 inches at the withers. And excellent for both commercial production and as pets. An adult doe weights about 135 lbs. and an adult buck weights about 175 lbs. They are considered as a dual purpose breed and very suitable for both milk and meat production. They can adopt themselves with hot climates easily. However, here we are describing more about how to take care of Nubian goats.

Housing/Shelter
A proper and suitable place for the Nubian goats to live is very important, among the most essential parts for keeping them. For keeping the goats safe inside and predators out, they require a securely fenced yard. Fencing must have to be at least 4 feet tall from the ground. Nubian goats usually need more space than other goats. They need at least 200 square feet space per goat. As Nubians are Middle Eastern breed, so they can adopt themselves with both cold and hot temperatures.
But in case of housing or shelter, they will require a dry, warm and well ventilated place. Goats usually are playful animal and they love to play. So give your goats some items which they can use for playing and entertaining themselves. You can keep some old tires, a large pile of rocks or a stack of straw bales. Provide comfortable and dry bedding for your Nubians. You can make their bedding by using straw or wood shavings.

Feeding
Nubian goats prefer browsing than grazing. So it will be better, if you ensure they have a range of shrubs or bushes in their pasture. Provide them high quality hay. Alfalfa or clover provides best hay for Nubians. You can feed them concentrated dairy goat feed. Supplement this concentrated diet with a loose mineral/salt mix. Along with quality feeding, always try to provide them sufficient amount of clean and fresh water. Keep several clean container inside their pen. Usually during warm weather, goats drink more water than usual. Larger sized goats also require more water than the smaller one. So ensure adequate supply of clean and fresh water.

Health Care
Goats are hardy animals, and Nubians are usually healthy than any other goats or animals. Although you have to perform some regular tasks for keeping them always healthy. They need regular checkups and vaccinations. Vaccinate your Nubians annually for tetanus and enterotoxemia (CDT). Also be very careful about some harmful goat parasites, such as lice and worms. Trim your Nubian’s hooves after every three months, doing this will help to prevent foot rot. You can perform triming by using a hoof trimmer and a hoof file or carpenter’s rough sanding plane. Wash them with water regularly after a certain period.

Potential Problems
Problems of raising Nubian goats depend on your living place or area. The biggest potential problem is predators. Make a strong and tall fence around the yard for keeping all types of predators outside. A fence with at least 4 to 5 feet high will be perfect for this purpose. If you notice predators are big threat for your Nubians in your area, then consider keeping them in a locked barn or stable. Find out any poisonous plants in the pasture and remove those. Oleanders, rhododendrons and members of the nightshade family are poisonous for Nubians. Nubians are also susceptible to stress. So don’t move them often, change their diet suddenly. Also try to avoid other potentially stressful stimuli.

Nubian goat’s care is quite different than other goats. They need ample time and space to look after them properly. But you can raise them successfully, if you provide them comfortable living place, adequate nutritious feed and always monitor their health condition. Vaccinate them timely and perform regular checkups. Always provide them sufficient clean and fresh drinking water, and take good care of them.

HI I am new to having Goat’s and we have 3 a Saanen, a Toggenburg and a pure Nubien the Nubien and Toggenburg are from the same herd and have the same dad.
The Nubien is a girl and her udder has goo ten swollen in the last month or two. The boys are bother wether’s but they did not complete the process for a bit after the arriving on the farm (got them all around June 2015 testicles fell off late sept)

Just wanting to make sure she is not the milking type and wether I should have a Vet come have a look at her?

I have 2 goats, a lamancha and Nubian, they are my first goats ever. They are both healthy and happy. I am wondering about my Nubians behavior, he would rather be laying up on the porch seeking attention or just the presence of myself or my daughter than browsing with the other goat. Is this okay/normal? He will start out with the Gus ( the lamancha) but if he loses him he comes to the porch crying and crying until we get him back with Gus or someone is staying outside to which he is satisfied. Point is I’m worried something is wrong, that he isn’t eating as he should. They are also provided hay and grain and plenty of water and plenty of room, they are free to go where they wish during the day and have a large pen with house at night.
Btw he=Gilbert !

Goats are social animal, and they love companionship like humans. Most of the large breeds are not suitable for keeping in a minimum number or as pets. We think they will be happy if you can manage more friends for them. Also contact a vet for a general check up. Thank you!

Thank you for responding. He is only 3m old so we have had 1 vet visit but soon to have follow up with booster. I think a lot hopefully has to do with the heat. We are in river valley of Arkansas so triple digits for us! We had a cooler rainy day last week after my question to you and he spent almost all day out browsing so that makes me feel better. The last thing I want to do is make him sad, he is such a sweetheart. Unfortunately my husband isn’t very fond of them, too much poop all over the front porch/sidewalk/driveway/in the Jeep/etc! I don’t mind, those little pebbles sweep off so easily! What I’m trying to say is more goats is not an option, frown. I am home all day long and have to young children so we spend lots of time outside so I hope for his sake us and the other goat, dogs and cat can be enough for him. I’m not very fond of our large animal vet so can you maybe give me one more piece of advice, since no more goats is it cruel for me to keep him? Or will I know when to say enough?

Like most other domestic animals, the goats also require companionship. So keeping at least two goats is better. Although, we have seen a single doe or a castrated buck which makes excellent pet. Your goats will be healthy and happy if you give them enough food and place to play. Thank you!